Figure 4

The anatomical illustration of the rectus abdominis muscles, the superior epigastric artery, the internal mammary artery, and the deep inferior epigastric artery: Line drawing that illustrates the anatomy of the rectus abdominis muscles, the superior epigastric artery, its relation with the internal mammary artery, and the deep inferior epigastric artery. The superior epigastric artery originates from the internal mammary artery at the level of the sixth and seventh rib. It then descends to enter the rectus sheath, at first behind the rectus abdominis muscle and then anastomoses with the deep inferior epigastric branch of the external iliac. IMA/V: The internal mammary artery and vein, SEA/V: The superior epigastric artery and vein, M: The musculophrenic branch, DIEA/V: The deep inferior epigastric artery and vein, EIA/V: The external iliac artery and vein, R: The rectus abdominis muscle, S: The sternum. Note that on the right side, the ribs have not been drawn to illustrate the course of the internal mammary vessels and their branching into the musculophrenic and the superior epigastric artery and vein. Additionally, the most proximal parts of the rectus abdominis muscles and first ribs on both sides have not been illustrated.